Merry Christmas!

Okay, I know we're a few days late, but we've had a blast the last few days spending time with Jemma on her first Christmas. She didn't really understand the ripping open part, but she had a good time. We spent Christmas Eve at Nana and Opa's and Christmas Day at Grandma and Grandpas. I also tried to get a picture of Jemma dressed up in front of the tree, but it went kind of like this...



That was the best smile I could get at that point :) She needed a nap. Here are some action shots of present opening!

At Nana's...



At Grandma's...
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9PqkqyVyECw6zQYZyaK7luvCzyhaFgVt_uHmUZlY5OwtMpmO4LiNiCZ6ozPHGe54V7A3PTxfzvuI2KFmbGTRyqEJRjvS1oScNDVG41665QTDAvBER-oXj1pbdAA-WXBYhnhMI668Nj6g/s1600-h/P1010163.JPG">


And at home!


I'm planning to add more pictures later, but the computer is acting up. I'll try to post them later today or tomorrow!

Feeding myself :)

Jemma has really taken off with eating lately, so thought I'd share a little meal time with you...


Yummy, mac and cheese, sweet potatoes and apple juice!


This is good, I'll have some more...


I like this feeding myself stuff!!



PS: Congratulations to our friends BJ and Jessie Murphy who welcomed their new little boy just last week. Jemma can't wait to meet her new friend, Canaan!

So many toys...

With Thanksgiving next week and Christmas just around the corner, I thought I'd go out today and do a little pre-Christmas shopping. Tom and I had already talked about how we wanted to handle Christmas for Jemma, and we decided we'd have 1 Santa gift and 3 gifts from us (baby Jesus got 3 presents). I have been debating getting Jemma a toy kitchen or some sort of standing toy she could play with since she is getting so mobile. I went to Target and Meijer and then to Toys 'R Us, and wow, I was overwhelmed with all the toys!! I just wandered around and stared at everything! There were so many things and I had no clue what half of them were. I didn't even know where to start looking!

There also seems to be a shortage of simple toys. Everything is sooo decorated and I could hardly find anything that didn't light up or make noise! I remember I had a Little Tikes kitchen with a fold out table, and it had a stove, fridge, and a sink. The kitchens I saw had sinks, microwaves, dishwashers, and one even had a laundry center! I was hoping I could just find a simple little kitchen...I think I might have to shop craigslist for a "vintage" kitchen!

Happy Halloween!

Jemma dressed up for Halloween as a sweet little bunny! I made her costume, and I think it came out pretty well. We walked around with her aunts, (who were a hippy and Batgirl, respectively). She waved to everyone and stared at all the costumes. Tom didn't get to come as he had a paper to write for class (he is working on his Masters), but we dressed her up and took pictures at home!





PS: On a side note, I will be adding Jemma's Christmas/Birthday wish list to her blog soon since the holidays are fast approaching!

"Bubble wrap is not for babies" and how Jemma is growing!

I found myself uttering those words recently, as Jemma has decided to explore everything! She is so active right now. It is really fun, but we definitely have to watch her every move or we find her doing things like, biting bubble wrap, chewing on our plant, pulling the cat's tail, etc. She is a very curious little baby, and of course, she learns about everything by putting it right into her mouth :) She has grown so fast this past month - I feel like she learns something new everyday! Here's a quick recap for everyone:

1. Not only is she crawling, but she is cruising along furniture :)
2. Her first tooth broke through about a week or so ago (it was the bottom right tooth), and I think she's working on the bottom left. She looks cute with her little teeth.
3. She loves to walk holding your hands.
4. Jemma babbles constantly - mamamama, dadadada, nananana, bababab. She says mama most consistently and with the most meaning. Makes me smile.
5. She's going to be a bunny for Halloween.
6. She eats most foods now, except for the baby no-nos, like dairy, egg, etc.
7. She has learned to wave!

Jemma is just a fun child to be around, and everyday is an adventure!! I love this age!

October Update :)

Jemma is growing so quickly. She's up to 19lbs, and about to outgrow her carseat in length! She is like 99% for height or something, so we're expecting a tall girl. She also has mastered crawling, pulling up to stand, and she is starting to cruise! We are going to have an early walker on our hands, I think. She loves toys now, and wants to play with everything, as she thinks everything is a toy :) We've had to give her a spare remote so she will leave ours alone!!! She is babbling some, but her most consistent phrases are still "gee," "eee," "huh," "ahh" and sometimes "mama" if she really wants something or is super sleepy.

Her hair is coming in more now, so she can finally wear a bow! I tried headbands, but no matter how loose they were, they always left marks on her head. Of course, she still looks bald because her hair is so light, but it'll get there. It's really grown a lot in the last few weeks. She also refuses to keep her socks on and kicks/pulls them off, even though her feet feel cold to me! She loves to eat and loves almost everything she's had, except she didn't like avocado or plums, I think. Speaking of eating, she seems to be hungry, so I have to run, but look for an update again soon!

And we're back!

Well, Jemma has been keeping me so busy I have hardly had time to do anything! Sorry for the delay in updates, but I will do my best to get everyone up to par on our lives since the end of July!

School has started up again for Tom, so Jemma is back to Grandma's and Nana's every week. She loved spending time with her daddy this summer, and they got to be really close. They love to play together, and Jemma gets to do fun things, like be a plane or rocket ship and fly all over the house! She sits by herself, and has just started belly crawling this week! She gets up on her hands and knees and rocks and rocks, but she can't quite figure out how to move her arms and legs together. She does the inchworm, if you know what I mean! She gets up on all fours, moves her legs, and then pushes out with her hands, and ends up on her tummy again. Then she starts the process all over again! She's getting pretty quick, and last night she chased a plastic bag all over the room - not matter where we hid it from her!

She has lots of toys to play with, but her favorite thing at the moment is an old remote. I was tired of her stealing ours to chew on, so I let her have an old one that doesn't work, and you'd think we gave the kid the moon. She is so happy and proud to hold her little remote and swing it all over the place. Of course, she likes to chew on it - along with everything else! She doesn't have any teeth yet, but we have been going through some serious teething phases...up all night, every night for a week, slobber, crying, drool, crying, biting, etc, etc. It seems to have calmed down a little, but I'm sure we'll be going through more soon.

Hmm...I don't have any pictures right now because our camera broke, and I don't have a new one yet (but my birthday is next week, so keep your fingers crossed!). We did get 6 month pictures taken, but they are not uploading for me, so I will try again later! We were in Babies 'R Us, and the picture place in there (Kiddie Kandids) was training a new employee, so we got a session for free, and a discounted package. The pictures turned out great, so I decided to go ahead and get them! Here is the link until I can get them uploading: http://mystudio.kiddiekandids.com/EditImage.aspx?im=33404270&sit=0

That's all for now, and we'll be in touch soon!

Boom Boom Wow!

Jemma likes to get down with the Black Eyed Peas :) Could Jemma be the next Fergie? We don't know...

Sorry for the sideways shot, can't figure out how to turn it!

Jemma Gets a High Chair...and Bananas!

I have been keeping an eye out for a high chair for little Miss Jemma. We've been doing some mashed bananas in very small quantities, but we hadn't really had anywhere to put her other than her bouncy chair, which is just a huge mess waiting to happen! So, I happened to stop in Once Upon a Child today after work, and they had a Fischer Price Space Saver high chair for $15!! These are normally like 60 bucks or something! I had been pondering where I wanted a full size high chair, but I really like this one, especially at this price. I just love consignment shops. You can find such good deals! Anyway, here is Jemma pre-bananas trying out her new to us high chair!

Of course we had to try it out, so here are some of our mealtime photos!!

Wordless Wednesday

The evolution of Jemma's hair (or lack thereof)

I was looking through some pictures of Jemma from the newborn stage, and I was highly amused by the changes in her hair. She started out with dark brown hair, even if it was a little sparse. I remember immediately after she was born I was surprised by how dark her hair was....and how much of a conehead she had!
It continued to grow in thicker as she got a little older...
You can really see how thick it was in this back shot of her head!

Then it started to disappear...


And now it's coming back in, but seems to be almost blonde!

Who knows what she'll look like next???

Jemma Sits! Well, sort of...

My little girl is getting so big and strong! She is almost sitting up by herself! Yesterday Tom and I went to the grocery store, and I went to the bathroom, and when I came out he had Jemma sitting in the cart holding onto the edge in the kid seat. She sat in the cart for about 20 minutes just holding that little bar. Tom and I were so proud, you'd have thought she just graduated! We must have looked like crazy people in the grocery store because we kept stopping and staring at her...well, it was mostly me, but he did it a little too! Then today he said she propped sat while holding onto her legs for almost 10 minutes. Sigh. She is just getting sooooo big!

I'm also planning to start introducing some foods. We're going to make most of her stage 1 foods, as it's all mostly puree anyway. I'm planning to start with bananas, so we'll see how it goes. We'll take some pictures when that happens!

A little life update :)

Hello out there!!! We have been a busy little family lately! Tom finished up his first year of teaching, my sister Dana graduated, then my other sister Kari got married last weekend. It has been more than a little hectic around here. We've had lots of visitors and lots of events to attend. Tom is actually gone this weekend on a manly getaway with his brother, dad, friend, and cousin to Lake Cumberland. They are doing manly things like boating, playing cards, and drinking beer. Jemma and I are hanging out and relaxing after our crazy couple of weeks. Sometimes it's really nice to just sit at home!

Tom has gotten to be Mr. Mom since he has been home, and it has been really nice to have him around all the time! He cooks and cleans and takes care of the baby, and it is awesome to come home to that!!! Jemma is really getting to spend a lot of time with him too, which is good for them. More baby daddy bonding is always good! She loves her daddy. He tickles her and she giggles and they play a lot. She really enjoys that. She loves to cuddle up on me, but she prefers to play with her dad. It is so amazing to watch the interaction between them. I just love it. Tom is a wonderful father.

Jemma is a growing little bean. She is 15 lbs, 4 oz and 25 1/2 inches long. She is in the 90th percentile for height and weight! She can roll to either side, but hasn't figured out rolling all the way to her tummy yet. She sits with just a teeny bit of support, too. I've decided to start baby proofing the house as I am anticipating her to begin rolling around soonish. I can't believe she is getting so big!!!

Just Jemma

Mirror Mommy and Wall Daddy

About a week ago, Jemma discovered Tom's picture hanging on our living room wall. She stared and stared and then she cooed and "talked" to the picture for at least 10 minutes. Then she became quite perplexed when the picture didn't talk back! She also loves to look in the mirror, but instead of looking at herself, she looks at me! This is how Jemma has come to have a "wall daddy" and "mirror mommy." We are highly amused by this recent development, and wanted to share!

My growing baby and her new bed

I do not have an exact weight, but I'm guessing Jemma is around 15 or 16 lbs. I weighed her by stepping onto our scale, and it increased by over 16lbs!! Of course, she had clothes and diaper on, so not entirely accurate, but close enough for me to say she has outgrown her bassinet...which made me sad because I love her bassinet! I was bumming at the thought of having to get up, pad down the hall, pick her up, feed her, get her back to sleep, and then go back to bed. Initially this was the routine we had because I could not figure out how to nurse her on my side, and I was soooooo tired all the time, even when we were only getting up 1 time a night to nurse. About a month or so ago, I figured out how to feed her on my side, and since then I have been getting such good sleep - and so has she. I think because she doesn't really wake up as much, so she goes right back to sleep after nursing.

So I'm sure you can imagine why I was not happy at the thought of losing this wonderful routine we had developed...especially since I just started back to work and I really need my sleep!! I decided to invest in something else to keep by our bed because her crib is just too big. It would not fit. We'd have to take our bed out of the room for it to fit, and that would completely defeat the whole point!! I am so excited to introduce our new Arm's Reach Mini Convertible Co-sleeper:

This thing is so cool! It can bump right up next your the bed (like I have it shown), it can be a free standing bassinet, and it is also a little playard too! And it will support her up to 30lbs on the top and 50lbs on the bottom...so it will last a long time and be great for traveling, too!!!

So what became of our old bassinet? Well, it converts into a infant/toddler chair, which is now sitting in our living room. And for your enjoyment, here are some pictures of Miss Jemma using it as a chair :) She is just so adorable.

Just plain cute

My sweet little Jemma on Mother's Day. Sorry it's late, but she's still cute.

Bad Blogger Mommy

I think I have been a bad blogger...I know, I know, it's been a long time since I've posted. Sorry. I'll try not to let that happen again. Try is the key word in that sentence. Ha ha.

Life is good. I started back to work full time (well, 4 days a week) last week. The 2 weeks prior I had worked 2 days each. I think that was a good decision for me. I had no idea how hard it would be to leave Jemma. Before she was born, I naively thought I would easily go back to work, no problems, no worries. HA. That was the furthest thing from the truth...and Jemma is even staying with family! She's with my mom Mon, Wed, Thurs, and my mother-in-law Tues, which I am so grateful for. It's hard enough to leave her with people I know! It is so hard to trust someone else with your child. I had no idea. I mean, I know she's fine with them, but it's just the little things I think of...do they hold her hand when she's upset or rub her head to help her go down for her nap? Do they know she likes something to hug when she naps? I could go on and on. I'm sure you all know what I mean. (And to my lovely babysitters, I mean no disrespect. You are doing a great job!! I'll stop worrying eventually!!!) It's getting better, though, at least for me. Jemma has never had a problem to begin with - just Mommy. On the plus side, I am happy to be back at work, as hard as it was initially. I truly love my job, and I enjoy what I do. I don't think I will ever be a completely stay at home mom, but I do hope to cut my hours back somewhat in the future...like maybe in a year or 2. Or at the very least when we have another kiddo.

Speaking of the little angel, she is doing awesome. She is growing like a weed and is just such a joy. Tom and I love her to pieces. She is so much fun. It's wonderful to watch her little personality emerge. She's started cooing and "talking" to everything that catches her interest, and she is almost rolling now, but she has so far only done it on accident. We are so blessed to have such a beautiful little angel for a daughter!!

2 hospital visits in 2 weeks...

Well, sorry it's been a while, but life got a little hectic around here.  Most of you know, but for those who don't, Jemma was hospitalized for almost 2 weeks due to RSV, bronchiolitis, and pneumonia.  She had started to get a little cold almost 3 weeks ago, and then on Monday April 6th we ended up in the ER because she was wheezing.  We were admitted because she had something called bronchiolitis.  I had never heard of this before, but every mom I know seemed to know what we are talking about.  Basically, it's like the baby has a bad chest cold and their little lungs can't handle it.  It's yucky.  She was released Friday April 10th.  The next Monday she had a follow up and her pediatrician sent her back to the hospital and we spent another 3 days because she had developed pneumonia!  Finally, last Thursday we got sent home, and we have stayed here :)  She is doing MUCH better, thanks to her awesome team of doctors, antibiotics, and lots of prayer!!

So, I hope to get back on track with this blog now that we have a healthy baby!  Thanks everyone for everything you helped with during those last few weeks!

Wordless Wednesday

All right, these are the only words you will hear again on a Wednesday, but I wanted to give props to the blog I got the idea from: Uniquely Placed.

Finding the Cloth Love

I'm going to make a startling announcement. I enjoy cloth diapering Jemma! Crazy, I know! Who thought anyone would ever say they like to diaper their child? Certainly not me! Now, I'm not saying I love poopy diapers, but cloth diapers are at least fun. Disposables are just diapers. They all look the same and they're kind of ugly. Cloth diapers are cute! At least ours are. Well, actually the cloth diapers we use aren't all that exciting since they come from the service, but our diaper covers are bright and fun. They do make colored diapers, but I don't have to buy my own. Jemma currently has a few different types of covers, but we mainly use Thirsties. They work fantastically, and are so adorable. She has pink, lilac, orange, and yellow. At night, we use fleece covers, but I don't have a picture of her in those. I'll get one soon. They are huge and fluffy, and I love her little fluffy bum!

I'm currently coveting some fleece soakers for our diaper stash. They are covers for the day, but are kind of like little pants to wear over the diapers and then you don't have to wear other pants. They are nice and soft and apparently great for warmer weather so baby doesn't have to wear so many layers. You can also get little sets with matching t-shirts like these from Monster Fluff Studios which I am totally in love with:

While on the cding topic, I also have to rave about our diaper service, Good Natured Baby. It is so nice to never have to worry about having enough diapers (we get 100 a week!) or wipes (we're also using cloth wipes). I am so thankful that there is a service in our area. I think I would still be cding if I didn't have the diaper service, but it is so convenient. The cost is roughly the equivalent of buying disposables. I have thought about just buying prefolds and doing the laundry myself to save on costs, but until that is really necessary, I'm not going down that road!

Thoughts on Breastfeeding

As most of you know, I am breastfeeding Jemma, and I have to say it is a much different experience than I ever expected. My mom nursed all of us, so I was always exposed to it, but until I was actually pregnant, I had no interest in doing it myself. It just seemed...weird? I don't know. I guess I just didn't like the idea of becoming a milk factory.

Once I was actually pregnant, I decided I wanted to breastfeed because I knew it was best for the baby, not to mention a better decision financially. Formula would cost a fortune!! Even the cost (and minor inconvenience) of purchasing a breastpump and bottles doesn't add up to the cost of formula.

So then I had Jemma, and my perspective changed again. She initially had trouble latching on and keeping it up - she'd slip or pull off and she was a very sleepy baby, so I had to constantly wake her up. I had to practically strip her naked to get her to nurse :) The first week or so was real work to get her to eat consistently, but at the time it didn't seem too bad. I knew it was going to get better eventually, and it was actually a really good way to get me to sit down and bond with Jemma initially. We spent a lot of time trying to figure it out.

Now she does great, and my next challenge is how to figure out how to do this in public without an indecent exposure episode. Jemma refuses to eat with a blanket over her head, so that isn't a great option. I have a few nursing tops which seem to work well, but I think mostly its just going to take practice.

I think the best thing about nursing so far is that it is something only I can do with Jemma. She'll take a bottle if she needs to, but she prefers to nurse. It is our special time together. It also forces me to rest and just spend some time with her. No matter what's going on, when she needs to eat, I have to stop and sit down to feed her. It is a great way for mother nature to ensure that you spend time with your baby and make you take a break every now and then!

Getting on Schedule

I am happy to report that Jemma has begun sleeping for 4-5 hour stretches at night - yeah!!!!! Cross your fingers that she keeps it up! She has done this for the past week, so I am hoping this is going to be a more consistent pattern. It has been really nice to sleep for more than 3 hours. I've been trying to start a nighttime routine, so that we can start preparing for me to go back to work. My first day back is April 13, and I am working 2 days a week until May 11 when I go back 4 days a week. I'd like for us to have a schedule established by then. Of course, this all obviously depends on how cooperative little Jemma wants to be, but so far so good!

We made it to church this morning, and we were even there on time for our normal 10 o'clock service. Jemma had one little crying episode (she needed her diaper changed), but was otherwise content throughout the service. I'm sure that will change as she starts getting older and wants to play more. She's just happy if we hold her for now :) We went to visit our students at the high school service, but Jemma was asleep in the car seat, so we'll have to go back when she is awake.

Just wanted to give you a little update since I was sitting here sending some emails, but that's really all I have for the moment. We'll post later in the week!

Date Night

Today was date night for me and Tom. My sisters came to baby-sit Jemma, and we went out for dinner and dessert. We had a gift card for Montgomery Inn, so we had that, and it was soooooo good. I love the saratoga chips!! Then we ran over to Kenwood to the bike store Tom gets his mountain bike gear from (he needed some clips for his new bike shoes). Sadly, I was starting to get tired after this, so we picked up some cheescake from the Cheescake Factory and headead home. My endurance has just not returned yet...probably due to all the sleep deprivation.

It was really nice to just be out with Tom, but it was a little strange to not have Jemma around. We have only left her one other time, and that was for an urgent trip to the doctor for me, so I wasn't thinking so much about her not being there. Even though I knew she was fine with my sisters, I kept wanting to call (although I talked myself out of it) and just wondering if she was okay. I am so grateful that we live close to family who are so willing to help out, and who I trust to care for my daughter while I have to work. I would die if I had to leave her with strangers!!! I know daycare works for some people, but I just could not bear the thought of leaving her in one. My ultimate goal is to get to a place financially where I can work 2 or 3 days a week, but we just aren't there yet. Maybe within the next 2 years...so probably by the time we are working on a second little Pope! Oh, I don't even want to think about that yet...

Motherhood: Week 2

Tom and I were sitting on the couch last night, and he was saying how strange it was that Jemma wasn't in our lives 3 weeks ago. It is crazy how quickly babies just become part of the family and you feel like they have always been with you! It seems like she has been here forever, although it's only been 2 weeks and 1 day. Amazing, huh? I think it also seems longer because she is a big baby, and it's easy to think of her as older as she is. Many babies are just hitting 8 lbs at 1 month and Jemma is probably up to 9 lbs already. She is also beginning to develop her head control, and can hold her head up by herself for about 5 seconds. She can pick her head up and turn to the other side, and her eyes are starting to focus and she tracks objects for short distances. I'm so proud :) Being a PT, I of course am watching for every little motor milestone I can. It's amazing to me how the body learns and develops on its own.

Anywho, I got off on a bit of a tangent. We are doing well at home. Tom returned to work on Monday, and he seems to be doing okay...tired, but okay. I am getting up with Jemma during the nights, but apparently she makes a lot of noise in her sleep, and it is keeping Tom awake. I am so tired I sleep right through it :) She's actually doing really good at sleeping in between feedings, and she continues to be this amazingly content little person.

I am healing up as well, and hopefully only have 2 more doctors visits in my future. I went Tuesday and my doctors were pleased that I had started to heal and everything was looking good. I have to go back Friday for another check, and then at least one time next week, maybe more depending on how things look. Although it is a pain to go to the doctor so often, it does at least get me out of the house and I know I am being well cared for.

My plan is to try to update the blog at least weekly, but we'll see how it goes. Until next time!

My Jemma

FINALLY! Jemma's Birth Story!

I have been trying to write a post about Jemma's birth and how life is going for over a week now; however, motherhood and the internet appear to be conspiring against this. We're actually doing really well at home, but it is just adjusting to taking care of Jemma and recovering. I had the post written about 3 times and then my computer crashed and I got fed up and decided I would just start over later.

SO, Jemma's birth was an interesting experience. It was definitely not what I expected or was hoping for, but it wasn't terrible. I started having contractions around 1 in the afternoon Monday, and we headed to the hospital about 9pm that night. I was really feeling great until they broke my water at 1am, and then the contractions got really intense. I was having horrible back labor, and I was getting really tired. My doctor suggested an epidural at about 5am, and I happily agreed. I was ready to start pushing by 8am, and this is where it got interesting. I pushed for 3 hours with minimal progress - when I'd push, she'd come down, but as soon as I stopped, she went right back where she was before. This led my doctor to suspect I might have a pretty big baby (turned out she was right)...anyway, we discussed several options, but I ended up having another doctor assist to perform a forceps delivery, and Jemma came out very quickly with that assistance. I narrowly avoided a c-section, although I did end up with a 3rd degree tear thanks to my daughter's broad shoulders. It was worth it, though, and I much prefer that to a c-section scar and recovery.

Jemma turned out to be 8 lbs, 12 oz; 21 3/4 inches long; brown hair; and brownish blue eyes. She had a small abrasion on her head, but this is healing well. She also was slightly jaundiced, but again, this has cleared up. We are breastfeeding, and she had a little trouble at first, but she's a pro now. She had her first pediatrician visit today, and Dr. Weatherington was very pleased with her. She's up to 8lbs, 14 oz (already surpassed her birth weight!) and is doing all the things she should be.

I am doing well considering how difficult Jemma's birth was. I have had some complications with my tear repairing, and I have to go to the doctor every 2 days until it starts to heal on its own, which hopefully should be soon. My doctors' seem pleased with the progress, but it's just going to take some time for everything to go back together. Basically this just means I have to rest a lot and stay off my feet as much as I can. I'm not allowed to lift anything heavier than Jemma. Tom stayed home the past 2 weeks to help me out, and I have lots of friends and family who will be helping during the day once he goes back to work Monday.

Anyway, overall everything is going pretty well. Jemma is a pretty easy baby, and we are enjoying having her with us finally. We're spending lots of time cuddling and snuggling and napping together. We'll keep you updated on how life is going, but for now, we're just spending time at home adusting to life with Jemma!

Gearing Up

Well, it's Monday. I was hoping to have a baby, or at least be on my way to having one by now. I do think it will be soon, as I having been having lots more contractions. Friday I went to the doctor, got checked out (almost 3 cm dilated!), and they stripped my membranes. I also got referred to a dermatologist for this skin rash, as my OB seems to have no real clue what it is other than to say "it's probably pregnancy related." I am still convinced it is PUPPP after looking at all the information online, and knowing my own symptoms. The OB was hoping a dermatologist could make sure it wasn't anything worse, and get me some relief from all the itching. However, no one was available Friday, so I am going to see if someone can squeeze me in this afternoon or tomorrow. I'm not sure what they'll be able to do, but I figure it is worth a shot.

Anywho, Friday I had contractions off and on all day following my doctor's appt, and by evening they did regulate to 10 minutes apart, but then tapered off before bed. Saturday morning I didn't feel a whole lot, but again as the day progressed, contractions picked up and even kept me awake until about 2 AM. They were 5-7 minutes apart, but then stopped once I fell asleep. Yesterday was the same, except I had them intermittently all night but not in any type of pattern. This, combined with the itchy feeling, left me waking up about every hour. They are also getting stronger and have been more intense each day. This makes me think labor is coming soon, as my body really seems to be gearing up and practicing. I hope so. I am ready to get over the waiting and meet this little person. So, keep your fingers crossed that labor starts soon, and that we have a healthy mama and a healthy baby at the end of it. We'll continue to keep you updated!

Week 39

I'm itchy. All over. Although my doctor last week did not think much of the rash beginning on my stomach (he said it was due to all the stretching and to use hydrocortisone cream 3 x day). Well, now it is everywhere. EVERYWHERE. From the tops of my feet to my shoulders and down to the tops of my hands. It has not yet spread to my back or bottom, but the entire front of me looks like it is covered in little red bumps...sort of like pimples but paler. As an added bonus, the initial ones that started on my stretch marks have morphed into this red blob...although they have been less itchy than the other places of my body. Or I am just noticing it less because there are so many other places itching. Oh the joys of pregnancy. On the plus side, while this is more annoying than chicken pox, it has no harmful side effects for the baby - just intense, horrible itching bumps for me! It is definitely PUPPP, even if the doctor didn't officialy diagnosis. Currently my focus is on trying to get the itching to lessen.

I have had some contractions this week, but I haven't really been feeling a whole lot. One false incident on Wednesday morning, but that ended up going nowhere. Surprisingly, I thought I'd be feeling a lot more frantic about having the baby than I am. Two weeks ago I was more than ready to be done, and while I definitely want to be done, I am feeling more calm about the whole process (even with the added itch factor). I guess I have accepted the fact that the baby will come when she's ready. It also helped a little that the doctor told me they wouldn't let me go more than a week overdue, which puts me at under 2 weeks regardless. I can handle that.

Steady Progress

Good news! I'm up to 80% effaced as of today - still only dilated 1.5 cm or so, but the doctor was happy with my progression, and said I was moving along well. He also stripped my membranes during the exam, which was uncomfortable, but will hopefully help things move along. They also told me they wouldn't let me go more than 1 week overdue, which made me feel better. I really don't want to be induced, but the thought of another whole month was awful. However, the doctor said he didn't think that was going to be a problem for me. Yippee! Maybe we'll have a baby here soon....

38 week woes

I go to the doctor again tomorrow. I thought about waiting to post until then, but I am bored and wanted to give a little update. I'm holding up fairly well, although I swear my belly gets bigger by the day. Tom said I look like I've grown a lot in the last few days, and my body definitely agrees. It is increasingly more difficult to, well, do anything! Mostly, I have trouble transitioning from one position to another, like from sitting to standing. This is only a problem because I can't seem to stay comfortable for long, and I need to switch positions a lot.

My biggest complaint is this itchy stomach of mine. As I reported last week, I have developed a few stretch marks, although they are not terrible. What is terrible is the itching they cause. At first I thought it was just the stretch marks, but I am beginning to fear it is something called "PUPPP", or pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy. Here is some information I found about it:

This is the most common rash in pregnant women. It normally occurs in first pregnancies during the third trimester with an average onset of 35 weeks. Thankfully, PUPPP does not usually affect subsequent pregnancies.

Appearance of PUPPP
The rash of PUPPP almost always begins in the stretch marks (striae) of the abdomen. It does not involve the belly button distinguishing it from other common rashes of pregnancy. The rash itself consists of small, red wheals in the stretch marks that grow together to form larger wheals on the abdomen. Sometimes the rash can include small vesicles. Over the next several days, the rash can spread over the thighs, buttocks, breasts, and arms. The rash is very itchy, or pruritic, hence the name. This condition is harmless to mother and baby, but can be very annoying. It lasts an average of 6 weeks and resolves spontaneously 1 to 2 weeks after delivery. The most severe itching normally lasts for no more than 1 week.

Cause of PUPPP
The cause of PUPPP is unknown. It is not associated with preeclampsia, autoimmune disorders, hormonal abnormalities, or fetal abnormalities. Some investigators suggest that the rapid abdominal wall distension damages connective tissue and causes an inflammatory response. One study has shown that male fetal DNA can be found in skin biopsies of the rash. Since 70% of women with PUPPP give birth to boys, a new hypothesis is that male fetal DNA acts as a skin irritant.

Diagnosis of PUPPP
The diagnosis of PUPPP is clinical, meaning it is based solely on the appearance of the rash. There are no laboratory tests that detect PUPPP. Skin biopsies are not generally performed unless there is a question about the diagnosis.

Treatment of PUPPP
The treatment of PUPPP is symptomatic. High strength steroid creams or ointments used up to 5 to 6 times a day usually relieve the itching and prevent the spread of the rash. Once the rash is under control, changing to a lower strength steroid used less frequently is advisable. For severe cases, daily oral steroids may be necessary to control itching. Oral antihistamines are generally less effective for itching than steroids, but may be useful at night to help with sleep.

Sounds lovely, doesn't it? I'm hoping maybe I don't have this, but the red lines of fire on my belly look eerily similar to the pictures I found online. At least, I am at 38 weeks, so even if it is PUPPP, perhaps it will not spread to terribly. It seems to be concentrated just on my stretch marks for the moment, which seems to be how it starts. I plan to ask the doctor about this tomorrow. Calamine lotion has helped somewhat, but maybe they can give me something else. Or maybe I could just have the baby. That would definitely help the rash go away :) I'll update you again tomorrow!

1.5 cm dilated, 50% effaced

We went to the doctor for my weekly check-up today, and I've made a little progress - 1.5 cm dilated and 50% effaced (or as the doc put it "halfway thinned out"). I was happy to hear that there are changes going on, but I'm trying to just take this all one day at a time. She's going to come when she's ready, so there is no sense in worrying about it. Of course, it took me like 2 weeks to realize this, but I guess at least I figured it out now! I was going a little nuts worrying about every little twinge, tightening, or sign, and I've just decided I will go insane if I keep that up. So we'll just take it a step at a time, and the baby will get here when she gets here.

I do have to admit I'm a little excited about the effacing part because up until now I hadn't had any changes in that area. That still doesn't mean we'll be going into labor soon, but that's okay! I'm planning like she's coming tomorrow but expecting that she won't be here until past her due date. I figure that way I'm not disappointed :) Besides, there are actually benefits to going longer - at least for me. The longer I work, the more time I accumulate to take off after, and the more time I work at my normal salary. On the other hand, if she comes a little early, I just get to have more time with my baby, so that is great! Anyway, that is all I have to report for today, so I'll talk to you all soon!

Random Stuff

Well, I am sitting at work, watching the snow fall outside our window. None of our patients showed up, and it is likely that none will this afternoon either. I don't blame them. I wouldn't be taking my child out in this if I didn't have to. Unfortunately for her, she's still stuck going everywhere I go since she still has a few weeks left in there (although sooner is okay with me - I keep trying to tell her that she can come out now, but she apparently isn't listening. The rebellion begins...).

Anywhoo, there is not a lot going on with us except wait and see! The doctors said I could go anytime or maybe not for a few more weeks. I am feeling a lot more pressure and I am a "fingertip dilated" (can't remember if I posted that before or not, but oh well - pregnancy brain!). I'm having more and more Braxton Hicks contractions, so my body is definitely practicing for the big day. I've also recently developed stretch marks (BOOO!), which I was so hoping to go without. How annoying to make it 37 weeks without a single one, and then get like 10 in a day...I just hope they don't spread too much...

Tonight, as long as the weather holds up, Tom and I are going to a new parent visit at one of our possible pediatrician choices - Springdale Mason Pediatrics. They have 2 offices and we are planning to use the Springdale office, as long as we like who we see this evening. We are trying to find a pediatrician who will be knowledgable and helpful about delaying and spreading out vaccinations. I know there is no conclusive evidence linking vaccinations to anything, but I have had way too many patients who come in with the story that their child was fine, got a vaccine, and then went downhill. Better safe than sorry, in my opinion. Tom agrees. Plus, looking at the vaccination schedule for kids now compared to what we got when we were young is astounding. They get like 6 vaccinations at 2 months...that seems like a lot to throw at a little baby. We do want our child to have all her vaccines, just hopefully spread out.

Well, I'm not sure I have a whole lot more to ramble about, but if I think of anything, I'll be sure to let you know :) Enjoy this beautiful snow and be safe!

Baby Survey

Name: Erin
Birthdate: 09/21/1983
Current Age: 25
Height: 5'6"
Weight before pregnancy: 145 lbs.
Current Weight: 171 lbs

Partner's Name: Tom
Partner's Birthdate: 01/14/1983
Partner's Age: 26
Partner's Height: 6'2''
Partner's Weight before pregnancy: ??? Roughly 200 lbs or so
Partner's Current Weight: Same

When did you find out you were pregnant? June 12 was the first positive pregnancy test, and we confirmed it at the doctor on June 17.
Who did you tell first about the pregnancy? Tom
Date of Conception? um...not really sure?
Due Date? February 18, 2009
Was the pregnancy planned? We weren't preventing it from happening but we weren't trying very hard either.
How did your parents react? My parents were excited but pretty calm about the whole thing.
How did your partner's parents react? My father-in-law's eyes looked like they were going to pop out of his head and my mother-in-law screamed at the top of her lungs. They were only a little excited :)
Did you go to the doctor yet? More times than I can count
Did you have your first ultrasound? I've had 3 total
Do you know the sex? yes
Boy or Girl? Girl
How is the baby's movement? She used to kick me repeatedly as soon as I sat or laid down, but her movements have slowed down a little lately. Now it is more like a gentle rolling most of the time, but there are still occasions of hard kicks.
How is the baby's heartbeat? Strong - usually around 140s-150s
Baby's name? ***** ********* or ******* ********* or ******** ***** or maybe ******** **** you all know we haven't decided and the names are secret anyway!!
Who do you think the baby will look like? My nose at least, probably brown hair which will turn blonde later. I'm hoping she gets Tom's big brown eyes and his ears (mine are a little too elfy)
Mom to be's favorite foods? Anything made from potatoes
Mom to be's latest cravings? Chocolate
Mom to be's latest "mom" moment? When we moved the bassinet into our bedroom and I thought how there was really going to be a baby in there soon!
What was the first change you noticed in your body? Suddenly I felt nauseous all the time
What was the latest change in your body? Back pain and increasing pelvic pressure
What is your sleep schedule? It varies, but it usally involves falling asleep around 10-11, waking at 12-1, and then getting up around 6-7
What is your work schedule? 8-4:30, Mon-Thurs
What is the last thing you bought for the baby? Chest rub, baby tylenol
What was the last thing you bought for yourself? Spare parts for the breastpump (I guess that was for both of us)
Planned birth place? Good Samaritan Hospital
Are you scared? More like anxious but a little yeah
Are you going to use drugs? Not if I can help it
How do you think you will react? I have no idea - I will probably cry and be very happy
How do you think your partner will react? I'm predicting he will cry, but you know, the manly kind when you shed like 1 or 2 actual tears and mostly just get all wet around the eyes
Have you started birthing classes? We already had ours.
What is the nursery theme? Ocean
Are you going to breastfeed? Of course

I'm Here:)

Sorry I haven't posted lately, but there isn't really a lot going on, and I have been feeling pretty worn out. I'm trying not to complain a lot, so let's just say I'm ready to be done. I wish my body would make up it's mind to either get this done or go to the due date! At my last visit, I was a "fingertip dilated" and I've been having increasingly more intense Braxton-Hicks contractions, so the doctor thinks there is a higher chance I will go early. Who knows? Anyway, we are all set at home, I've got everything packed, and the only thing left to do is organize our guest room so we can use it if needed. I honestly don't have a lot else to say, but if anything changes we'll let you know!

Waiting Game

Guess what? Today is Tom's birthday, which was the last big event before my due date. I had mentioned before that I was counting down based on the large events in our lives (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc), and Tom's birthday was the last on my list! Now that I'm thinking of it, my sister Kari's birthday is February 4th, so I could add that in! Anyway, what I am getting at is that this whole birth thing is fast approaching! I am 35 weeks today, which is only 35 days till my due date (although I could potentially be looking at an additional 2 weeks if she shows up late). I am really getting excited to be done with pregnancy and just be a mom! I will so love being able to roll over in bed easily, sleep on my stomach, walk without waddling...oh the joys of the third trimester. I can't complain much because I have had a relatively easy pregnancy in comparison to many people I know. It will just be nice to be done with this process.

Oh, and thank you to everyone for all your thoughtful gifts at my showers! We are so thankful for everything, and it will make this transition so much easier to have these things ahead of time. We truly appreciate everything!!

Pampered Friday

Today I got to go to Becoming Mom spa in Mason for a pregnancy massage and pedicure. It was W-O-N-D-E-R-F-U-L! I feel awesome! My darling husband got me a package for Christmas because I have been having a lot more back pain and this was fantastic. I loved it! My massage therapist was sweet and it was really relaxing. The therapists are specially trained in pregnancy massage and specifically third trimester massage. I did not know this, but apparently certain points are believed to induce labor, so most massage therapists will not perform a third trimester massage. Who knew? Tom put a lot of effort into researching and finding this place, so it was really special for me. It was an awesome present.

The pedicure was really great too because I haven't had a chance to pamper my feet in a while - simply because I can't reach them very well. So if you are looking for a great gift for a pregnant mom in your life, I highly recommend this place - they are great. And the best part is they use safe products. While I was there I picked up some Zoya nail polish - it is free of all those yucky chemicals. Awesome!

Baby Shower #1

Yippee! Today was my first baby shower, and it turned out really nice. Thanks to my mother-in-law and aunt-in-law for throwing a very nice shower. It was relaxing but fun, which was perfect. And thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone for all the wonderful gifts. It will all be so helpful in the coming months!

And now I'm up for baby shower #2 this Saturday...I tell you there is a lot of baby showering going on here, but that is a-okay with me :)

Went to the doctor today...

Nothing new to report, except I've gained another 3-4 pounds. The doctor is happy. I actually cannot complain because my weight has been really good. I do have to watch it a little bit these last 2 months because I was apparently very close to failing my 3 hour glucose test. The doc said if I had scored 1 or 2 points higher they would have sent me to the dietician and I would have to be monitoring my blood sugar. Thankfully, that is not the case, but I do want to stay as healthy as I can. I am actually looking forward to going back to work Monday so that I can be more active. This 10 day vacation has been awesome - don't get me wrong - but work is my exercise :) It keeps me up and moving which is good for me and the baby. Anyway, looking forward to seeing everyone at the shower Sunday!

PS: I've been updating my What We Really Need post as my registries are being shopped, so you know what are the current urgent items!

New Nursery Pics!

With Tom and I both off for an extended holiday break, we have been able to get a lot done around the house - including finishing up the nursery. Now all it needs is stuff to fill it up!

Now there are decorations around the crib. Yeah! The orange seahorse lamp is still one of my favorite things. It give a really nice soft glow which will be fantastic for late night feedings. And we just happened to have these 2 small shelving units (the tan one), which are perfect for storing baby items. This one has (or will have) extra sheets and blankets for the crib.

Close-up of the rainbow fish pictures which hang above the crib. Aren't they so cute and friendly looking??

Rainbow fish rug from IKEA - I love that place. They have some really cute stuff. And they seem to be one of the only places which have ocean decorations for children's rooms. Almost all of the decorative stuff has come from them, excluding the rainbow fish pictures. I found those at Target. But the IKEA items are very bright and colorful, which goes great with the ocean!

What will be our changing area once we have a changing pad and diaper pail. The dresser and shelves were another IKEA purchase. The lamp is only temporary until we find a floor lamp for that spot. I also like that the dresser fronts are clear so you can see through the drawers a bit.

And a close-up view of the drawer. I think it looks so cute with all the little clothes. It's crazy to think that a person will actually fit into those! On the far right in the picture are some of the diaper covers I've gotten so far. The ones in the back are the night time covers, and the front ones are for day time. The drawers are filling up fast these days!!